Background
The event was held at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours for the 16th time in the circuit's history across the weekend of 14-16 July. The Grand Prix was the eleventh round of the 2006 Formula One World Championship and the 56th running of the French Grand Prix as a round of the Formula One World Championship. This race also marked the centenary of the first French Grand Prix in 1906.
Championship standings before the race
Going into the weekend, Fernando Alonso was leading the championship, as he had been since the start, now with 88 points, compared to Michael Schumacher with 69. Renault teammate Giancarlo Fisichella had overtaken Kimi Räikkönen for third place with 43 points.
Friday drivers
The bottom 6 teams in the 2005 Constructors' Championship and Super Aguri were entitled to run a third car in free practice on Friday. These drivers drove on Friday but did not compete in qualifying or the race.
Qualifying
Michael Schumacher scored his 68th and final pole position . He had held the record for the most pole positions since surpassing Ayrton Senna at the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix and would hold it until Lewis Hamilton surpassed it at the 2017 Italian Grand Prix .
Race
At the start, Fernando Alonso challenged Felipe Massa for second place, locking up at the first hairpin , but the Brazilian managed to hold on and protect his second place, as well as Michael Schumacher 's lead. While several battles emerged in the midfield, Schumacher set a series of fastest laps to grow his lead out to 8 seconds over Alonso at the time that Massa pitted on lap 16. After the first round of pit stops was completed, Schumacher led Massa by 6 seconds, with Alonso a further 5 seconds down the road. Jarno Trulli was fourth, but he was passed by Kimi Räikkönen on lap 26. Later in the race, Trulli would retire but his teammate Ralf Schumacher would end up finishing in that fourth position. Alonso lost time behind backmarkers and was trailing Schumacher by 16 seconds when the German made his second stop. After Alonso had visited the pits for the second time, the gap had expanded to 26 seconds, with Massa still in between the rivals. When the Ferraris stopped for a third time, Alonso moved past Massa and conserved his tyres. He held on to second place and finished the race 10 seconds, but more importantly, just 2 points behind Schumacher. Schumacher became the first driver in Formula One history to win the same Grand Prix on eight occasions (having previously won the French Grand Prix in 1994 , 1995 , 1997 , 1998 , 2001 , 2002 and 2004 ). Schumacher also achieved his 22nd career hat trick (pole position, win & fastest lap at the same race), also a record.
External links
46°51′51″N 3°09′49″E / 46.86417°N 3.16361°E / 46.86417; 3.16361
Race Result
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Constructor | Laps | Time/Retired |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | 70 | 1:32:07.803 |
| 2 | 1 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | 70 | +10.131 |
| 3 | 6 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 70 | +22.546 |
| 4 | 7 | Ralf Schumacher | Toyota | 70 | +27.212 |
| 5 | 3 | Kimi Räikkönen | McLaren-Mercedes | 70 | +33.006 |
| 6 | 2 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Renault | 70 | +45.265 |
| 7 | 4 | Pedro de la Rosa | McLaren-Mercedes | 70 | +49.407 |
| 8 | 16 | Nick Heidfeld | BMW Sauber | 69 | +1 lap |
| 9 | 14 | David Coulthard | Red Bull-Ferrari | 69 | +1 lap |
| 10 | 21 | Scott Speed | Toro Rosso-Cosworth | 69 | +1 lap |
Qualifying
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Constructor | Q1 | Q2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | 1:15.865 | 1:15.111 |
| 2 | 6 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1:16.277 | 1:15.679 |
| 3 | 1 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | 1:16.328 | 1:15.706 |
| 4 | 8 | Jarno Trulli | Toyota | 1:15.550 | 1:15.776 |
| 5 | 7 | Ralf Schumacher | Toyota | 1:15.949 | 1:15.625 |
| 6 | 3 | Kimi Räikkönen | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:16.154 | 1:15.742 |
| 7 | 2 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Renault | 1:16.825 | 1:15.901 |
| 8 | 4 | Pedro de la Rosa | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:16.679 | 1:15.902 |
| 9 | 10 | Nico Rosberg | Williams-Cosworth | 1:16.534 | 1:15.926 |
| 10 | 14 | David Coulthard | Red Bull-Ferrari | 1:16.350 | 1:15.974 |
The Paddock Breakdown
Barry · Gary · KatGary — 33 · Three Fantasy F1 leagues
Let's examine the Renault team's tire strategy – a deliberate deployment of the softer intermediate compound, a calculated risk given the track's evolving grip. The initial data suggests a significant differential in lap times between those running the prime and the intermediate, approximately 1. 3 seconds per lap. This highlights Renault's aggressive approach to maximizing immediate performance, a tactic that, while rewarding, undoubtedly placed a greater strain on tire degradation. Considering the McLaren's more conservative strategy, it's evident the team prioritized consistency over outright pace.
Let's examine the data swirling around this Magny-Cours affair. Ferrari secured a dominant weekend, claiming pole position for both races and converting that advantage into a victory – their 88th in Formula One, a figure that elevates them to a statistical plateau rarely breached. Considering McLaren's consistent front-running throughout the season, the Italian team's win ratio of 75% here is a particularly sharp divergence, suggesting a tactical or mechanical edge that deserves deeper scrutiny. The Renault team, despite securing second place, registered a win percentage of just 33%, a stark contrast that hints at a weekend plagued by strategic missteps or, perhaps, inherent limitations within their chassis design.
Kat — 30 · Technical journalist
Magnificent. The Ferrari gearbox simply isn't allowing Schumacher to fully express the raw power output of that V10. Observe the telemetry – a consistent 0. 7 second delay between throttle application and rotational speed increase. The differential's locking mechanism, coupled with the gearbox's inherent resistance, is creating a significant torque interruption. Alonso, sensing the weakness, is relentlessly applying pressure, exploiting the gap. It's a fascinating demonstration of how a seemingly minor mechanical imperfection can be magnified under pressure, particularly on this notoriously challenging track surface. The differential is generating significant heat; a clear indication of the system's struggle.
The rain, a persistent, sullen drizzle, mirrored the tension radiating from Ferrari's garage. Let's examine the tire pressures – Schumacher's were holding a consistent 27. 8 psi in the intermediates, a deliberate choice to maximize mechanical grip. Observe the subtle shift in the rear wing angle; a barely perceptible adjustment, likely prompted by telemetry indicating a slight instability during the final qualifying lap. Ross Brawn's team, predictably, prioritized consistency, a strategy reflecting Schumacher's unwavering control and the inherent risks of a slick track. A fascinating divergence from Alonso's more aggressive approach, wouldn't you agree?